Antenna mast for airplanes



Aug. 4, 1964 H. R. PERSON ANTENNA MAST FOR AIRPLANES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1962 INVENTOR. 62794141166 PEBJO 17/7/1452? By #7 a mom/ 4 6. TPflV/SS rr e/wszs' Aug. 4, 1964 H. R. PERSON ANTENNA MAST FOR AIRPLANES I INVENTOR. wavy/we Pf/PXO/V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i TORI 5V6 Filed Dec. 17, 1962 UnitfId States Patent 3,143,387 ANTENNA MAST FOR ALANES Herman R. Person, Columbus, Nehru, assignor to Dale Electronics, Inc, Columbus, Nelm, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Dec. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 245,054 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-273) Static interference is frequently encountered in airplane radio equipment, particularly in weather conditions involving precipitation. Under such conditions, the aircraft becomes charged to a potential where corona discharges occur at various points throughout the aircraft. Whenever the discharges occur on parts of the plane which are in contact with the radio antenna, the resulting noise pulses imparted to the radio equipment many times render the equipment unusable.

Efforts have been made to overcome this problem, but the resulting structures have been expensive to fabricate and assemble. Even more important, these units have failed to make provisions for the unusual torque stresses imposed on the antenna wire at high speeds. In addi tion, when the antenna wire is damaged, the masts normally have to be removed from the plane to effect a replacement of the wire.

Therefore, a principal object of my invention is to provide an antenna mast for airplanes whereupon the internal component parts of the mast can be easily withdrawn from and inserted into the mast housing.

A further object of my invention is to provide an antenna mast for airplanes which will permit the antenna wire to be rotated within fixed limits when conditions so require to relieve torsional stresses imposed upon the antenna wire.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an antenna mast for airplanes which can effectively resist corona discharge.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an antenna mast which is easily fabricated and assembled.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an antenna mast for airplanes which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial elevational View of my device with portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate its construction to expose some internal components thereof in cross section;

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view of my device taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and shows the antenna wire and related components in a slightly rotated position;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view of my device taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view of some of the internal components of my device showing their relationship to each other;

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of my device showing the components of FIGURE 4, and taken on line 55 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view of the antenna wire and the tool used to negotiate the wire to adjust one of the internal components.

I have used the numeral 10 to generally designate the bottom supporting body of my device which has a highly streamlined surface, as indicated by its forward edge portion 12 illustrated in FIGURE 5. The upper portion 14 of supporting body 10 is cylindrical in shape and has a streamlined contour at its forward end 16 which is similar to that of leading edge 12 of the supporting body. The supporting body 10 is of molded construction and is comprised of a dielectric material. A vertically disposed connector rod 18 is imbedded in the supporting body 10 as shown in FIGURE 1, and is in electrical contact with an elongated horizontally disposed chuck barrel 20 which is imbedded in the upper portion 14 of body 10. The connector rod 18 extends downwardly through the body 10 and connects a feedthrough portion of the mast (not shown) which is almost entirely disposed inside the surface of the aircraft. The means for mounting body 10 to the aircraft have not been shown as this structure does not comprise a part of my invention.

The forward end of chuck barrel 20 is formed of a hollow arcuate shell 22 which is secured to the main body of the chuck barrel by any convenient form of welding. An elongated bore 23 extends through the chuck barrel. The forward portion 24 thereof is smooth and the rearward portion 26 thereof is threaded. The diameter of bore 23 increases at the rearward end thereof to form shoulder 28. The bore 23 is in longitudinal alignment with a bore 30 in the rearward end of the upper portion 14 of body 10. As shown in FIGURE 1, the forward end of bore 30 is smooth, and the rearward end thereof is threaded to receive the threaded forward end 32 of a resilient antenna wire supporting sleeve 34.

An elongated cylindrical chuck body 35 with a diameter slightly less than that of bore 23 of chuck barrel '20 is positioned within the threaded portion 26 of the bore 23. A bore 36 within chuck body 35 is tapered inwardly as it extends in a rearward direction. The forward end of bore 36 is of uniform diameter and is threaded to receive threaded plug 38. Plug 38 has a slot 40 therein to receive a screwdriver or the like for rotation purposes. The rearward end of bore 36 is in communication with compartment 42 which is formed by cutting away a semicircular portion of the rearward end of the chuck body 35. The rearward end of compartment 42 is comprised of a semicircular shoulder 44. A semicircular aperture 46 is located in the center of shoulder 33 to receive the antenna wire, as will be discussed hereafter. Screw 48 is threadably received in a suitable aperture in chuck body 35 and the head thereof extends radially therefrom and is received within an elongated longitudinal slot 50 which extends the full length of bore 23 in chuck barrel 20. By observing FIGURES 2 and 3, it is seen that the width of slot 50 is greater than the diameter of the head of screw 48 which permits the screw to have limited rotational movement in the slot whenever the chuck body 35 is so rotated.

Chuck elements 51 and 52 are tapered to conform to the tapered shape of bore 36 in chuck body 35. A threaded semicircular slot 54 appears along the center axis of the flat adjacent surface of the chuck elements. Spring 56 has one of its ends frictionally embracing a protruding shoulder 57 on the rearward end of plug 38. The spring then extends rearwardly to engage the forward ends of chuck elements 51 and 52 to normally cause the elements to move rearwardly in bore 36.

A tightening screw 58 is comprised of a threaded head 60, a cylindrical shank 62 of reduced diameter, and a shoulder 64 which is formed on the forward end of the shank. The shank 62 of tightening screw 58 is adapted for reception into compartment 42 of chuck body 38 through the semicircular aperture 46 in shoulder 44 on the rearward end of the chuck body. The shoulder 64 on the forward end of the tightening screw will not pass through the aperture 46 and must be inserted into the compartment through the open side thereof. The position of tightening screw 58 in bore 23 of chuck barrel 20 determines the position of the chuck body in the chuck barrel, because the inner end of the tightening screw dwells within and bears against'the forward end 65 of compartment 42 through washer 66 which is positioned immediately forward of the tightening screw. A slot 68 appears in the rearward end of the tightening screw58 to permit a tool to be inserted therein for rotating the screw. A center bore 70 extends along the longitudinal axis of the tightening screw.

A closure screw 72 is adapted to be threadably received in the rearward end of bore 23 of chuck barrel 20 and the head of screw 72 bears against the shoulder 28 as shown in FIGURE 1. Screw 72 has a bore along its longitudinal axis. 'A resilient washer 74 is sealed against the rearward end of screw 72 by the forward threaded movement of the antenna supporting sleeve 34.

To assemble my device, the insulation 76 is stripped from the forward end of an antenna wire 78. With all of the components shown in FIGURE 4 removed from the chuck barrel 20, the chuck elements 51 and 52 are placed in the chuck body in the manner described. The washer 66 and tightening screw 58 are then placed in the compartment 42 of chuck body 35 in the manner described. The free forward end of the antenna wire is then inserted through the sleeve 34, washer 74, closure screw 72, tightening screw 58 and washer 66 and thence into the bore 36 within the chuck body 35. The forward end of the wire is positioned between the chuck elements 51 and 52 and dwells in the threaded slots 54 on the adjacent surfaces of the chuck elements. The spring 56 and plug 38 are then threadably inserted into the forward end of the bore 36 of chuck body 35 so that the spring forcibly urges the chuck elements 51 and 52 rearwardly in the bore, and hence into gripping engagement with the forward end of the antenna wire.

The composite unit comprised of the elements thus secured to chuck body 35 are then inserted into the rearward end 26 of the bore 23 in chuck barrel 20. A tool 80 comprised of an L-shaped rod with an elongated slot 82 therein with two teeth 84 on either side of one end of said slot, is then inserted into the chuck barrel 20 so that the antenna wire 78 is received in the slot 82 of the tool, and the teeth 84 of the tool engage the slot 68 in the head of tightening screw $8. The tool is thereupon rotated to threadably move tightening screw 58 forwardly in bore 23 of the chuck barrel 20. The washer 66 serves to reduce friction between the screw 58 and chuck body 35 so that the screw can be easily turned independently of the chuck body. The rearward end of wire 78 is normally anchored, such as to the stabilizer of an airplane, and as tension on the wire is increased by the continued forward movement of both the tightening screw and chuck body, the gripping action of the chuck elements on the wire is increased. After the tightening screw 58 has been moved to the desired position, the closure screw 72 is threadably inserted into the rearward end of the chuck barrel 35, and tool 80 can be used to accomplish this result. Lastly, sleeve 34 can be threadably screwed into the rearward end of bore 30 of the housing 10, to compress washer 74 against screw 72 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Whenever it is desired to remove the chuck body 35 from the chuck barrel, to replace a damaged wire, for example, the sleeve 34 and screw 72 are removed by reversing the above-described steps. Then, tool 80 is used to move tightening screw 58 rearwardly and outwardly from the bore 23 in chuck barrel 2t). Because the forward end of the tightening screw 58 is lodged in compartment 42 of the chuck body 35, the rearward movement of the tightening screw pulls the chuck body rearwardly through the bore 23. During this pulling phenomenon, the rearward surface of shoulder 64 on tightening screw 58 engages the forward surface of shoulder 44 at the rearward end of chuck body 35.

The chuck body cannot be allowed to freely rotate within the chuck barrel and the screw 48 prevents this free rotation. However, when torsion is induced to the antenna wire 78 under severe operating conditions, the tolerances in the width of slot 50 do permit limited rotation of the wire and the chuck body, which serves to relieve some of the torsional stresses being imposed on the wire.

Thus, from the foregoing, it is seen that my device will accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my antenna mast for airplanes without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use. of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

- I claim:

1. In an antenna mast, a chuck barrel having an interior opening and having a fixedly closed forward end and rearward end,

a chuck body mounted in the interior opening of said chuck barrel,

" said chuck body having an axial boretherein,

said bore having a tapered portion wherein the crosssectional area of said bore is progressively decreased, chuck elements in the tapered portion of said bore, said chuck body including an elongated hollow cylinder having an open compartment at its rearward end,

' said compartment having forward and rearward ends,

a tightening screw having a threaded head on its rearward end in threaded engagement with the internal opening of said chuck barrel,

a shank extending forwardly from said threaded head into said compartment and rotatably-engaging the rearward end of said compartment,

a shoulder on the forward end of said shank which is adapted to operatively engage the forward end of said compartment upon forward longitudinal movement of said tightening screw in said chuck barrel,

said shoulder being adapted to engage the rearward end of said compartment upon the rearward movement of said tightening screw in said chuck barrel,

the threaded head of said tightening screw being normally positioned within the-center interior of said chuck barrel away from. therearward end therof, an elongated connector rodextending outwardly from said chuck barrel and having one of its ends'in electrical contact therewith,

said connector rod and said chuck barrel being imbedded in a housing of dielectric material,

and an antenna wire extending into the rearward end of said housing and said chuck barrel, through said tightening screw and into said chuck body to be engaged and gripped by said chuck elements.

2. In an antenna mast,

a chuck barrel having an interior opening and having a fixedly closed forward end and rearward end,

a chuck body mounted in the interior opening of said chuck barrel,

said chuck body having an axial bore therein,

said bore having a tapered portion wherein the crosssectional area of said bore is progressively decreased,

chuck elements in the tapered portion of said bore,

said chuck body including anelongated hollow cylinder having an open compartment at its rearward end, said compartment having forward and rearward ends,

a tightening screw having athreaded'head on its rearward end in threaded engagement with the internal opening of said chuck barrel,

a shank extending forwardly from said threaded head into said compartment and rotatably engaging the rearward end of said compartment,

a shoulder on the forward end of said shank which is adapted to operatively engage the forward end of said compartment upon forward longitudinal movement of said tightening screw in said chuck barrel,

said shoulder being adapted to engage the rearward end of said compartment upon the rearward movement of said tightening screw in said chuck barrel,

the threaded head of said tightening screw being normally positioned within the center interior of said chuck barrel away from the rearward end thereof,

interlocking surface means on said chuck barrel and said chuck body to permit limited relative rotational movement therebetween,

an elongated connector rod extending outwardly from said chuck barrel and having one of its ends in electrical contact therewith,

said connector rod and said chuck barrel being imbedded in a housing of dielectric material,

and an antenna wire extending into the rearward end of said housing and said chuck barrel, through said tightening screw and into said chuck body to be engaged and gripped by said chuck elements.

3. In an antenna mast,

a chuck barrel having an interior opening and having a forward end and an open rearward end,

a chuck body slidably positioned in the interior opening of said chuck barrel,

said chuck body having an axial bore therein, said axial bore terminating in a compartment adjacent the rearward end of said chuck body, said compartment having an aperture means in its rearward end in alignment with said axial bore, one side portion of said compartment being cut away to expose the interior of said compartment,

a hollow tightening screw means threadably connected on its rearward end to the interior of said chuck barrel rearwardly of said compartment,

a hollow shank portion secured to said screw means and movably extending through said aperture means into said compartment,

and a hollow shoulder on the forward end of said shank portion and rotatably positioned within said compartment, said shoulder being adapted to engage the rearward interior end of said compartment upon the rearward movement of said tightening screw in said chuck barrel;

the size of the cut away portion of said compartment being greater than the size of said shoulder to permit the lateral displacement of said shoulder and said shank means from said compartment when said chuck body and said "tightening screw are removed from said chuck barrel,

the open end of said chuck barrel, the hollow tightening screw, the hollowing shank portion, the hollow shoulder and the axial bore in said chuck body being adapted to receive an antenna wire to be engaged and gripped by said chuck elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 674,244 McGeorge May 14, 1901 1,379,165 Burns et a1. L Mar. 24, 1921 2,346,706 Stoner Apr. 18, 1944 2,397,025 MacBlane Mar. 19, 1946 2,447,254 Jorgensen Aug. 17, 1948 2,626,353 McGee Jan. 20, 1953 2,647,941 Matson et al Aug. 4, 1953 2,735,688 Duchesneau et a1. Feb. 21, 1956 2,921,307 Risk Jan. 12, 1960 3,046,517 Loredo July 24, 1962 

3. IN AN ANTENNA MAST, A CHUCK BARREL HAVING AN INTERIOR OPENING AND HAVING A FORWARD END AND AN OPEN REARWARD END, A CHUCK BODY SLIDABLY POSITIONED IN THE INTERIOR OPENING OF SAID CHUCK BARREL, SAID CHUCK BODY HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THEREIN, SAID AXIAL BORE TERMINATING IN A COMPARTMENT ADJACENT THE REARWARD END OF SAID CHUCK BODY, SAID COMPARTMENT HAVING AN APERTURE MEANS IN ITS REARWARD END IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID AXIAL BORE, ONE SIDE PORTION OF SAID COMPARTMENT BEING CUT AWAY TO EXPOSE THE INTERIOR OF SAID COMPARTMENT, A HOLLOW TIGHTENING SCREW MEANS THREADABLY CONNECTED ON ITS REARWARD END TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHUCK BARREL REARWARDLY OF SAID COMPARTMENT, A HOLLOW SHANK PORTION SECURED TO SAID SCREW MEANS AND MOVABLY EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURE MEANS INTO SAID COMPARTMENT, AND A HOLLOW SHOULDER ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID SHANK PORTION AND ROTATABLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID SHOULDER BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE REARWARD INTERIOR END OF SAID COMPARTMENT UPON THE REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID TIGHTENING SCREW IN SAID CHUCK BARREL; THE SIZE OF THE CUT AWAY PORTION OF SAID COMPARTMENT BEING GREATER THAN THE SIZE OF SAID SHOULDER TO PERMIT THE LATERAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SHOULDER AND SAID SHANK MEANS FROM SAID COMPARTMENT WHEN SAID CHUCK BODY AND SAID TIGHTENING SCREW ARE REMOVED FROM SAID CHUCK BARREL, THE OPEN END OF SAID CHUCK BARREL, THE HOLLOW TIGHTENING SCREW, THE HOLLOWING SHANK PORTION, THE HOLLOW SHOULDER AND THE AXIAL BORE IN SAID CHUCK BODY BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN ANTENNA WIRE TO BE ENGAGED AND GRIPPED BY SAID CHUCK ELEMENTS. 